Notes and Disclaimers: The following is an original
work by me, freely using the creative genius of Tachiwaka Megumi, to whom I am indebted.
The characters of Saint Tail, Asuka Jr., et al are owned by Kodansha and TMS.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this fic half as much as I do, and you'll be inspired to let
me know. May we all find a love like Asuka Jr. and Meimi.

As the secretary looked up from her work, a genuine smile instantly replaced her
professional one. "We havent seen you in a while," was her cheerful
greeting. "What can I do for you?"

Asuka Jr. smiled back and nervously raked his fingers through his hair. "Id
like to make an appointment to see Morinaka-sensei, please."

The smile on the secretarys lips broadened. "Why so formal?" Smoothly
she rose and moved around the desk. "Wait here a second."

Watching as she opened the door to the mayors office and slipped inside, Asuka
Jr. once again felt his courage waver now that he was alone. Mentally grasping his resolve
he steeled himself, yet again, for what had to come next. There was nothing for it.

Less than a minute later the secretary returned, leaving the door slightly ajar. The
reason for the visit, Morinaka Hideo, followed behind her mere seconds later.

"Asuka-kun!" he said with audible glee, extending his hand. Seemingly this
was the only bright spot in a heretofore dull day. As they shook hands, the mayor gently
pull the detective towards the open door. "Come in, come in!"

The older man beamed at his guest, who was becoming more morose with each passing
moment, but finally managed a weak smile and a mumbled greeting. Asuka Jr. allowed himself
to be lead into the office and gratefully sank into the chair offered to him.

The mayor resumed his seat behind the desk, moving several piles of paper from the
center of the desktop. Once he settled, he folded his hands on the desk and smiled at his
guest. "Youve come because there's something on your mind,"
Morinaka-sensei began with what could only be described as a kindly smile.

As uneasy as he was, Asuka Jr. nodded, unable to bring himself to speak. Reaching into
his jacket pocket the young man removed the detectives badge he had been awarded the
year before, laid it on the desk, and silently slid it toward the mayor.

The action had a sobering effect on the mood in the room. Staring at the sliver and
gold disc, the mayor mutely reached across and lifted the badge. He looked at it hard, his
mind full of the implications this gesture brought with it. The silence between them
stretched out. Finally the older man raised his eyes to meet those of the young detective.

"Why?"

Asuka Jr. dropped his gaze onto his lap.

"I mean," he went on, "if you want me to take you off the case, I
wont fight you, but I don't think that's why you've come."

Asuka Jr. nodded.

The mayor sat back, his free hand coming up to lift the blue and white ribbon off the
desk. "If I were to hazard a guess, I would have to say that youve become
personally involved with the case and no longer feel you can act objectively."

Again the young detective nodded.

Morinaka-sensei closed his eyes and sat back with a sigh. The silence between them
lingered. Suddenly the mayor rocked forward and seized the badge. "Since Im the
one holding this," he said, toying with the ribbon, "Anything you say will, of
course, be off the record." The relief that flashed across Asuka Jr.s face put
the smile back on the mayors face. "You know who she is, dont you?"

It was a statement of fact, couched as a question for Asuka Jr.s benefit.
Something like misery clouded the young mans face for a second and slowly he nodded.

Asuka Jr. shrunk into himself, but again he nodded. The fight between misery and
elation was plainly written on his face as he strove to control himself.

The mayor smiled and placed the badge back on the desktop. Rising he went to the window
and drew the curtains aside.

"I always knew this day would come," he said softly, but then raised his
voice to continue. "The problem as I see it, is that you want to do the right thing;
to finish the job I asked you to do, and you feel you cant. Or, perhaps its
more accurate to say you wont." He didnt wait for confirmation, but
forged ahead. "You perceive the only possible ending is for the law to arrest the
wrong doers, which is, of course, the logical progression in an officers mind. But
Asuka-kun, not everything is so cut and dry."

Turning from the window the older man began to pace behind his desk, his hand clasped
behind his back. "When I chose you, I honestly didnt think there would ever be
a satisfactory outcome to this case. It was clear to me, and to you I'm sure, that Saint
Tail was a sort of modern day Robin Hood, even if we didnt always know her motives.
It was also apparent that in nine out of ten cases she was working on the side of the law.
The bottom line was, Saint Tail wasnt stealing to make money, she was undoing what
she perceived to be a wrong. It was the perfect case for a young, up-and-coming detective.

"And as such, you genuinely amazed me with the amount of energy you brought to the
case. You helped the police in more ways than I could have ever imaged. I cant thank
you enough."

"But " Asuka Jr. interjected, but the mayor only smiled and shook his
head.

"Catching Saint Tail was the right job for you, Asuka-kun, and it was one of the
best decisions I made while in this office."

Asuka Jr. couldnt take it anymore and leapt to his feet. "But I didnt
catch her!"

The mayor turned then to face the young man, his expression frank. "Yes you did,
Asuka-kun. You just didnt turn her in."

Asuka Jr.s jaw dropped at the implications, but the mayor only nodded. Moving to
the front of the desk, Morinaka-sensei gently, but firmly, pushed the young detective back
into his chair before sitting in the empty chair beside Asuka Jr.

"Now Im not holding it either," he said, indicating the badge across
the desk from them. Twisting to better face the detective, he dismissed the badge with a
wave of his hand. "Tell me about her, Asuka-kun. All about her. Even at my advanced
age," he chuckled, "I cant help but see the bewitching appeal of our
mysterious saint."

Asuka Jr. looked at his hands, a blush covering his face. "What would you like to
know?"

With a deep sigh the mayor sat back, making himself more comfortable. "Well,
Im sure you wont tell me her name, and frankly Id rather not know, but I
am very interested in her character. Ive often wondered what makes Saint Tail do the
things she does, and the only satisfactory answer I could ever come to was that shes
kind hearted."

The light that suffused Asuka Jr.s face as he looked at the mayor answered every
question the older man could have possibly asked. In that one moment he could clearly see
that Asuka Jr. was deeply in love, plain and simple, but he waited for the answer to his
question rather than risk embarrassing his guest. And for the next half an hour he
listened silently as Asuka Jr. recounted a detailed catalog of the many qualities he had
come to love about the petite thief. The mayor nodded when it seemed appropriate, but
maintained his silence. It was apparent that there was no one else who could share this
secret and the feeling of being the young detectives confidant warmed his heart.
When the list of charming qualities came to a conclusion, Asuka Jr. blushed again.

"I guess I had a lot to say," he said with a chuckle.

Morinaka-sensei beamed with delight and nodded again. "But it was wonderful to
hear it all, thank you. And now," he said in a more serious tone, rising and
recovering the badge from the desk, "Asuka-kun "

The young detective rose as well and the two men faced each other.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the thief that has been named by the police as
Saint Tail has been removed from the threat to public safety and will, in
future, no longer be menacing Seiko City."

Asuka Jr. nodded his agreement.

"It is also my understanding that the handshake contact that I formed with Asuka
Daiki regarding Saint Tail has been fulfilled to my immense satisfaction and as such he is
hereby removed from any further involvement with this now closed case."

A smile slowly spread across Asuka Jr.s face.

"However,"

The smile faded.

"I will not be releasing you from the service of the mayors office."
With that he offered the badge to Asuka Jr. "If you are willing to accept my
commission, Asuka Daiki, I would ask that you remain on the security staff of the mayoral
office and make yourself available as the need arises."

A smile like relief bloomed on Asuka Jr.s face as he accepted the badge back from
the mayor. "It will be my great honor, Morinaka-sensei" he said, shaking the
mayors hand enthusiastically.

As the door closed on the young detective and, by virtue of his strengths, the case
against Saint Tail, the mayor stood in his office window. He was suddenly suffering a sort
of melancholy. The passing of something indescribable darkened his mood. Casting his gaze
into the courtyard below he longed to catch a glimpse of the retreating form of his
visitor. But instead of Asuka Jr. he could see the top of the head of a young girl with
flaming red hair. She wore the uniform of a St Paulias student. In her hands was the
hat that completed her uniform, but the girl was twisting it anxiously as she paced in the
courtyard. Her eyes never left the door as she agitatedly moved to and fro. Suddenly she
gave a little start and stood still, waiting. Her whole posture bespoke her expectation.
In the next second the dark hair of Asuka Jr. could be seen as he intercepted her. The
mayor couldn't suppress the smile that covered his face. As he watched Asuka Jr. proudly
removed the badge from his pocket and began talking animatedly. Just as quickly the
excited young man replaced the item and, catching up her hand, began dragging her away.
The girl laughed, clapped her hat onto her head and as she turned to go cast a glance at
the window the mayor stood in. The radiant delight on her face left no doubt in his mind
as to whom Asuka Jr. was holding hands with. Basking in the afterglow of her smile, the
mayor returned to his desk and called for his secretary.

"Would you please order me two dozen roses," he said as he resumed his seat.
He didn't look up as he began pulling papers into easier reach. "Send a dozen red to
my wife, please, and have one sent to this office. Since theyre for you, feel free
to chose the color youd like best."

The secretary raised an eyebrow.

"Im suddenly in an excellent mood, Yomata-san," he said lifting a page
off one of the piles. The secretary smiled, bowed her thanks for the present, and returned
to her desk.